Page 12 of One Night Only
While my parents continue to discuss my integrity, I tap out a reply.
Me: How did you get this number??
His response comes through straight away, but it’s a photo—a photo of my goddamn business card.
Me: You stole my business card??
Unknown: I think “stole” is a bit of a stretch. I’m Andy’s client. You’re his assistant. It makes perfect sense that I have your number. You know… in case of an emergency.
Me: What happened between us… you realize this could get me fired.
Unknown: Don’t worry, Goldie. Nobody’s getting fired. That’s a promise.
I have no idea what the wholeGoldiereference is all about, but I cannot engage. It’s too risky. Despite my curiosity, I don’t reply and instead switch to Do Not Disturb.
As my parents continue arguing between themselves over the phone like I’m not even here, I toss my cell back onto the desk, burying my head in my hands again, stifling a groan because I am so screwed.
CHAPTER 4
DALLAS
As I walk out of my closet, carrying two of my lucky game day suits to pack for our road trip tomorrow, the music playing through my apartment is interrupted by Siri.
“You have new messages in the Thunder Lords chat.”
I toss the suit bags next to my case and grab my phone from where it’s charging on the nightstand, chuckling when I see the first few messages from my closest buddies on the team.
Happy: Tex, you still got the number for that hot red head in Philly with the huge ass.
Logan: Dude…
Mason: Happy, you’re a degenerate.
Happy:…
Mason: Sorry, that was Keller. She saw the notificationpop up on my screen.
Logan: She’s not wrong. You are a legit degenerate.
Happy: Yeah, so anyway… Tex? I need my dick sucked.
I shake my head. Fran’s right. Happy is a straight up degenerate. I know I’m not really one to talk. I have a carefully curated roster of women in my phone from every city we’ve ever played in, willing to hook up again at the drop of a text. And as I read Happy’s messages, I can’t ignore the unfamiliar pinch at the back of my neck. Guilt? Huh. That’s new.
I scroll away from the Thunder Lords chat and open my message thread with Emily, staring at the last message she sent me.
Goldie: What happened between us… you realize this could get me fired.
What Andy doesn’t know won’t get anyone fired. I’m sure as shit not about to tell him that I spent the best night of my life with his now executive assistant, especially if it could risk her job. Sure, I have a big mouth most of the time, but I know when to keep it shut. And, for this woman, I will.
This woman, my God. This woman who floored me in the best possible way, the one I haven’t been able to get out of my mind for the last month. She’s got to be some sort of witch because there is no feasible way that it is normal to have these sorts of feelings after one night. But I do. I feel all the feelings, and they’re all foreign to me because I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.
In my twenty-six years on this earth, I’ve never had a girlfriend. Voluntarily. Who the hell wants to commit themselves to just one woman? Suckers, that’s who. Hell, I took two dates to my senior prom. They didn’t know about each other, or agree to it, and I ended up with a Solo cup of spiked punch thrown in myface, but how was I supposed to choose just one? Monogamy is a crazy concept to me. At least, it was. I don’t know anymore. With a woman like Emily, monogamy doesn’t sound so bad. Now… if she would just give me the time of day.
Me: You up?
I stare at the text message I just sent, shocked by my own stupidity. Here I am, imagining Emily as the one and only woman by my side for the first time in my life, and I send her a fuckingYou uptext?
“Dumbass,” I mutter.
